Directed by:
Michael AndersonScreenplay:
Eric AmblerCinematography:
Gordon DinesComposer:
Leighton LucasCast:
Richard Todd, William Hartnell, Akim Tamiroff, Donald Houston, Keye Luke, Robert Urquhart, Barry Foster, Kenneth Cope, Ian Bannen, Tsai Chin, Bernard Cribbins (more)Plots(1)
On April 19th, 1949, HMS Amethyst, a frigate of the Royal Navy, left Shanghai for Woosung, and passage up the great Yangtse river to the Chinese capital. On a peaceful mission, the Amethyst was unexpectedly attacked by the Chinese People's Liberation Army on the north bank of the river. Taken by surprise, the amethyst ran aground. Many of the crew were killed. With rescue attempts blocked by the Chinese communist army, a skeleton crew refloat the ship, but, closely watched and covered by shore batteries, they are prisoners. For a long time the situation remains in deadlock, until finally, lieutenant-commander John S. Kerans realizes he must make a dangerous decision - trust their captors to agree a deal, or run the gauntlet of communist batteries, down 140 miles of hostile territory. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
Richard Todd
Ireland
Best movies:
The Last Place on Earth (1985) (series)
The Longest Day (1962)
Never Let Go (1960)
William Hartnell
UK
Best movies:
This Sporting Life (1963)
Footsteps in the Fog (1955)
The Mouse That Roared (1959)
Akim Tamiroff
Russian Empire
Best movies:
The Reluctant Saint (1962)
Reap the Wild Wind (1942)
Touch of Evil (1958)
Donald Houston
UK
Best movies:
The Longest Day (1962)
Clash of the Titans (1981)
Where Eagles Dare (1968)
Keye Luke
China
Best movies:
The Good Earth (1937)
How the West Was Won (1976) (series)
Young Man with a Horn (1950)
Robert Urquhart
UK
Best movies:
Murder at the Gallop (1963)
The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
Restless Natives (1985)
Barry Foster
UK
Best movies:
Battle of Britain (1969)
Ryan's Daughter (1970)
Frenzy (1972)
Kenneth Cope
UK
Best movies:
Juggernaut (1974)
Miss Marple: Sleeping Murder (1987) (TV movie)
Captives (1994)
Ian Bannen
UK
Best movies:
Braveheart (1995)
The Hill (1965)
Gandhi (1982)
Tsai Chin
China
Best movies:
Casino Royale (2006)
Blow-Up (1966)
You Only Live Twice (1967)
Bernard Cribbins
UK
Best movies:
The Water Babies (1978)
The World of Suzie Wong (1960)
Frenzy (1972)
Allan Cuthbertson
Australia
Best movies:
The Man Who Never Was (1956)
Room at the Top (1959)
Freud (1962)
Ralph Truman
UK
Best movies:
Ben-Hur (1959)
Oliver Twist (1948)
El Cid (1961)
Alfred Burke
UK
Best movies:
Basil Dignam
UK
Best movies:
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Battle of Britain (1969)
Room at the Top (1959)
Thomas Heathcote
India
Best movies:
Julius Caesar (1970)
A Man for All Seasons (1966)
A Night to Remember (1958)
Edward Dentith
UK
Best movies:
A Tale of Two Cities (1958)
Two Way Stretch (1960)
Around the World in 80 Days (1989) (TV movie)
Anthony Chinn
Guyana
Best movies:
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
The Fifth Element (1997)
Goldfinger (1964)
Andy Ho
Singapore
Best movies:
The World of Suzie Wong (1960)
You Only Live Twice (1967)
Matchless (1967)